Generic Preventive Measures - Checklist

To assist States with the implementation of Article 9 and Part 3 of the Technical Annex, in 2009 the then Coordinator on Generic Preventive Measures, Colonel Jean-Christophe Le Roux of France, developed a questionnaire which serves as a checklist for States to consider when they are developing procedures, guidelines or regulations on the implementation of generic preventive measures. The checklist has been reproduced in full below. It can also be found in Protocol V document CCW/P.V/CONF/2010/6/Add.1, 11 November 2010. Essentially the checklist is a tool to facilitate the implementation of generic preventive measures. While it does not have any legal status, it is hoped that the checklist will clarify various issues, establish best practises and serve to monitor and improve the implementation of generic preventive measures at the national level.

1. Specification(a) Has each stage (storage, transport, handling, training, use, …) of the life cycle of munitions been defined, in terms of

(i) Normal conditions, abnormal conditions and accidental conditions of use (ii) Type of environmental conditions and the level to which munitions may be exposed (direct or indirect exposure i.e when integrated in weapon system), (iii) Duration of exposure to different environmental conditions, (iv) Configuration/ state of munitions during periods of exposure to different environmental conditions, (v) Maximum allowable degradation during its operational lifecycle i.e. during storage, transport, handling, use with particular weapons systems …? (vi) Is there a requirement for a specified life time?

(b) Are quantitative reliability and safety requirements included in the specification for the entire life cycle? (c) Is there a maximum allowable UXO rate?(d) Have the types of targets to be engaged and scenarios of use by munitions been considered and characterized? (e) Are the impact conditions of the munitions considered i.e. angle of impact of munitions/ type of impact surface? (f) Has fuse sensitivity been defined in specification? (g) Are any materials, which are forbidden by international standards or regulations, used? (h) Which design standards shall be applied during development and production? Are they internationally recognized? If not, is there a comparison matrix between standards?

2. Concept

3. Development

Reducing UXO sensitivity

Reducing potential civilian casualties from ERW

Qualification work

4. Production

5. Utilisation - 5.1 Storage(a) Do the storage conditions meet the specified military requirements? (b) Are munitions stored in compliance with a recognised storage regulation to maintain munitions reliability and safety? For example GICHD A Guide to Ammunition Storage or equivalent (c) Where munitions temporarily cannot be stored in accordance with regulations e.g. in temporary tactical deployments is there a risk reduction procedure such as “As Low As is Reasonably Practicable” that can be followed (e.g. : temperature and humidity surveillance, …) (d) Are storage sites inspected to ensure that risk reduction procedures such as “As Low As is Reasonably Practicable” are being followed? (e) Is there a procedure to manage stockpiles of munitions?